EYE HEALTH: FIVE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR EYES SAFE IN THE SUMMER SUN

From bike rides and hikes, to beach vacations, and time at the pool or ballpark, our eyes experience an abundant amount of sun exposure during the summertime. You can protect your skin with sunscreen on these bright days, but how can you protect your eyes?

In the first of a two-part series on summer eye care, five ways to keep your eyes safe in the sun:

— Wear sunglasses that offer ultraviolet protection. Look for a pair that protects from 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. A and B rays penetrate the cornea and damage the lens & retina, leading to increased risk for cataract and macular degeneration. Don’t feel as if you have to spend a lot of money for the protection; many inexpensive brands of sunglasses offer UV protection.

— Consider buying sunglasses with larger lenses. Large lenses and/or close-fitting wraparound styles protect the delicate skin around your eyes. Larger lenses also prevent eyes from being overexposed to reflected UV rays (from the sand or water), which can also be harmful.

— Don’t let cloudy days fool you. On overcast days, your eyes can still be exposed to UV. Wear your shades even when it seems like the sun isn’t ...